Some welding helmets have special additional features that can make them more convenient to use, particularly if you have particular proclivities or issues. For example, if you wear glasses, wearing a welding helmet might be less comfortable. Some welding helmets have the option to have a magnifying shade, simulating being up close to the object you’re welding so you can see better. Some more advanced helmets even have built-in lenses that can be set to your prescription, so you don’t need to wear your glasses while welding. Another common issue is fogging. Anyone who has worn a helmet before, particularly in hot and humid areas, knows that any viewscreen can fog up with humidity, making it inconvenient to see. Some helmets have anti-fog designs, which can range from vent slits to allow air circulation to anti-fog treatments over the shades. See additional info at Jasic Laser.

Some of the safety protocol for every welder is to always wear proper flame retardant protection because exposed skin can get burned “like sunburn” from arc, tig, mig welding flash. It is also advisable to wear eye protection and face shield. In this content we will discuss in details the top 10 safety protocol every welder needs to adhere to improve their safety on jobsite. Adequate ventilation and the use of fume extraction systems are crucial in any welding environment. These systems help to remove harmful welding fumes and gases from the workspace, which are hazardous to health when inhaled. Purpose: Proper ventilation ensures that toxic substances are effectively removed from the air, reducing the risk of respiratory problems and other health issues related to air quality.

One of the biggest differences between the three methods of joining materials is the overall purpose for using each action. Welding is generally used for fabrication and structural applications. Joining two materials with a seamless and strong bond is important for a wide range of purposes, including architecture, automotive construction, and many more. Brazing is primarily, but not entirely, used in plumbing and similar applications. Any time two materials need to fit together without being melted themselves as they would in a welding situation, brazing is a good option. Brazing is also used for dissimilar metals, which can be difficult or impossible to connect with welding. However, care must be taken to ensure that those metals are not reactive to one another.

It is a step-down transformer that converts high voltage, low-amperage AC input current into low voltage, high-amperage AC welding current. The transformer welding machine can run on single-phase power. Most of the AC power is created, and each time the polarity changes, the voltage passes through zero, making an unstable arc state. However, this problem has been solved by designing better compressive characteristics in the welder and better AC electrodes. MIG welding machines are commonly used for welding stainless steel, steel, and aluminum alloys. Stick welding machines work well with stainless steel, steel, and cast iron. TIG welders are a better choice for all metals or alloys except cast iron.

How to pick a welder tips: Duty cycle: The advertised amperage of the machine offers a headline guide, but the duty cycle of the machine gives up the truth. Light industrial machine duty cycles can be as low as 20%, but more heavy duty MIG’s should range between 40-60%. If a 300amp MIG has 30% duty cycle for instance, it’s on the edge of acceptability. Duty cycle is determined by how many minutes out of 10, it can weld at 100%. Duty cycle testing: MIGS tested at 20 Degrees & 40 Degrees we consider good. (Beware any manufacturer who doesn’t quote an ambient temperature for testing) Manufacturer’s warranty: Always a great guide to quality. A three year warranty is good. Weld characteristics: Make sure the arc is smooth & suits your application. (Some machines are better suited at the low range and others at higher amperage range).

US tool brand DeWalt are known for making the best angle grinders, and the DCG405N is a step above the competition. Cutting the cord once and for all, this is a powerful grinder that makes use of DeWalt’s excellent XR battery system. This Dewalt angle grinder is not just a powerful cordless grinder though. The grip shape is supremely comfortable, and the whole unit weighs just 1 kg without the battery installed. You can lock-off the power switch when you need to get the grinder into awkward spots as well. This brushless angle grinder also features a host of clever safety features. I like the no-volt release to prevent accidental start-ups when a new battery is installed. The electronic brake and clutch are essential for safe operation too. The 18V brushless motor is ideal for battery use. It can make 69 cuts in ½” steel rebar when used with a 5.0 Ah battery. It doesn’t come with any batteries or one of DeWalt’s excellent TSTAK cases though, which is the case with bare power tools.

The Hobart Ironman 240 is the updated version to the Ironman 230 that recently has been discontinued. The 240 is a well-reviewed welder that delivers a wide range of power from 30 to 280 amps in a heavy-duty American-made chassis. Hobart equips the Ironman series with its “soft arc” technology for an easier striking, more spatter-free arc. If you are looking to weld aluminum, then like most of their MIG welders, they offer the package with a SpoolRunner 200 spool gun found here, for a few hundred extra bucks. This is a full-sized platform, offering a 15-foot gun connection and able to load a 44-pound spool of wire. Hobart backs the Ironman 240 with a strong five-year limited warranty. The power regulator has 12 notch settings for easy feel when setting the power level with gloves. This power regulator knob seems to be a problem for some users who have reported issues with the knob rotating freely and not changing the power setting. The only downside to this model is that it is unable to run directly off of a generator as it causes problems with the SCR firing timing of the welder. This makes it a bit less portable than some other welders, but nothing you can’t work around. Overall, this is a quality industrial-grade welder which is ideal for farm work which has been compared to Miller 252 – just without the digital screens and a few other features that most people wouldn’t need, but costs a lot less making it excellent value for the money.

A few tips about welding equipment, MIG and TIG welders, plasma cutters. Stick Welding — If you learned to weld years ago, you likely learned using an arc welder. Stick welding for many years has been the most popular method for most home-shop welding needs. This process uses an electric current flowing from a gap between the metal and the welding stick, also known as an arc-welding electrode. Stick welding is an effective method for welding most alloys or joints and can be used indoors and outdoors or in drafty areas. It’s also the most economical welding method and provides the ability to create an effective bond on rusty or dirty metals. However, this method is limited to metals no thinner than 18-gauge, requires frequent rod changing, emits significant spatter and requires that welds be cleaned upon completion. Stick welding is also more difficult to learn and use, particularly the ability to strike and maintain an arc. Arc welders are available in AC, DC or AC/DC, with AC being the most economical. It’s used for welding thicker metals of 1/16 inch or greater. These machines are a good choice for farmers, hobbyists and home maintenance chores.

MaxxAir HVHF 12COMBO Heavy Duty Cylinder Fan with 20-foot Vinyl Hose. Maxx Air has been producing high-quality ventilation systems since 1948 for industrial and residential areas. This cylinder fan is one of their powerful and efficient fume extractors that you can use anywhere you want. Extremely Lightweight and Industrial Finishing. This compact and lightweight machine weighs only 1.02 pounds despite its large size. It’s built with high-quality steel material that makes it sturdy and robust. With painted finishing and buttoned control, the air cylinder fan gives a vintage and industrial look. 2000 CFM Airflow and 20-foot Long Vinyl Hose. Maxx Air HVHF can efficiently replace any ventilation system that your workplace or residence has. It can generate 2000 CFM airflow with 120V power. The vinyl hose is 20 feet long and adjusted to a high-velocity blower.

Nova Voyager DVR magnetic drill is one of the very first smart and most featured drill press. This also plugs and play type drill press with advanced direct-drive motor technology and safety sensors. This drill press recognized as the best versatile and well-featured drill press available in the market. It can handle glass, plastics, metal, and wood for any innovative projects. With no load, it can run 50 rpm to 5500 rpm variable forward speed as well as reverse speed.

The ESAB group is owned by Colfax Corporation. Over 100 years after the company was founded, ESAB serves a global market for welding and cutting equipment. The group is organized in the regions Europe, North America, South America, Asia/Pacific and India. ESAB is represented in almost every country by subsidiaries or agents. Sales and support is established in 80 countries and there are 26 manufacturing plants across four continents. Visit the web site of your nearest ESAB office to find out more. Customers Talk, We Listen – The voice of the customer will always drive the development of our strategic plans and actions. Living this value is done by getting Customer Input and Expectations, at every opportunity, and by differentiating ourselves in How We Deliver to our customers. Innovation Defines Our Future – Individual and organizational creativity will drive breakthrough ideas for technology, products, solutions, and processes. We live this value by providing differentiated customer solutions, creating products and services that improve quality of life and environmental stewardship through Creative Thinking, and by understanding What Innovation Brings.

Welding Supplies Direct are the UK distributor for GPPH welding tables, manufactured to the highest standards in Europe. GPPH’s range of welding benches and tables are laser cut for precision and are used in every branch of industry. These welding tables offer perfect flatness (+/- 0.5MM) & are made from 15MM thick S355J2+N grade steel. Our modular welding benches come equipped with a hole system of all sides (tabletop & all sides); the holes are 28MM in diameter and have a chamfered edge for easy tool assembly. You have the option of standard legs or castors being fitted, too.

Miller have spent time crafting a machine to the highest manufacturing standards that is perfect for reducing set up times and welding up to 3/8 in steel. The most notable feature is the Advanced Autoset feature which gets you welding out the box in no time. All you have to do is select your wire diameter, process type and metal thickness and you’re good to go. You can input your parameters manually if you’d prefer, but the Autoset is so advanced that you really won’t need to, the arc quality is spot on. It’s a versatile unit that is dual-voltage and is super lightweight so it’s easy to carry with the handle on the top. There are plenty of other fine details in this machine like the ‘Auto Spool Gun Detect’ which can automatically detect a spool gun and ‘Smooth-Start Technology’ to enable smooth welds. You have to pay a bit more for this welder, but you get a quality machine with fine attention to detail. See the full review here.

It’s also worth looking into how your welder will handle things like short-circuiting. If a short circuit issue occurs while you’re welding, you don’t want a surge of power to ruin your work. Fortunately, there are many welding companies that implement strategies in their devices to eliminate the risks of short circuits. To choose the correct portability, size and weight for your welder, you’ll need to think about what you’ll need the machine for. If you’re going to be carrying it around a lot, then you need something that’s going to be highly portable and lightweight. Just make sure that a reduction in weight doesn’t mean that you end up compromising on power or performance. Find extra info on weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk.

Sealey is one of the biggest manufacturers of tools and accessories in the UK, offering approximately 8000 items including tools for home, repair shops, agricultural facilities, as well as cleaning. In this variety, we found a gasless MIG welder MIGHTYMIG 100. The machine is able to weld metal sheets of a different thickness thanks to a toggle that allows setting the amperage to the minimum and maximum. The output range will be 55? and 100?, respectively. We should say that the welding time at the minimum power won’t be over 6 minutes. Yet, this welder will run for about 2 minutes at 90? and that’s great considering its moderate price. In addition, you’ll be able to manage the joint by varying the speed of the wire feed, just turn the relevant control knob to the desired setting. By the way, the welder is compatible with a flux-cored wire up to 0.9 mm, and the weight of the spool should be 0.9 kg. Like most welding tools, it features an overheating protection, and the orange light will notify you when the welder gets overheated after a long use. Apart from that, the forced air cooling system will chill the welder’s internal parts. The welder has a non-live torch for your convenience that will increase the accuracy of welding and provide safety.

UK market look: Many veteran welders would agree that the greatest advantage that comes from a metal inert gas MIG welder is its speed. The pace of these premium and cheap welders is unmatched when compared to stick welding and TIG welding, both of which can take a bit longer. For this reason, the metal inert gas welder allows for much faster production rates than the other welding processes (which is a reason for their being used so often in mass production).

Store the Cylinders Correctly: The cylinders should be stored in a dry, ventilated, and well-drained area, and away from ignitable and inflammable materials. Empty cylinders must be stored separately. OSHA also mandates the facility owners to store oxygen and fuel gas cylinders separately. The storage facilities should display proper warning signs for people regarding the dos and don’ts in the area where the cylinders are stacked. Always take care to store acetylene gas cylinders, as well as other compressed gas cylinders vertically. In addition to the above, the following should be practiced while handling the compressed gas cylinders. The cylinders feature tags, markings, or stencil marks for easy identification. Never deface or tamper these identification marks while using the cylinders.

Eliminate Any Extra Welds from the Design: Look for ways to modify product designs to eliminate unnecessary welds. For example, one company that manufactured boxes originally had a design that called for welded lift handles on each side of the box. By simply changing the design of the box to cut out lifting slots, it eliminated the need for welding the handles – saving time and money. In another instance, rather than making a part with an open corner, the design was changed to accommodate a closed corner, which meant 1/3 less metal required to fill the corner. Look for Items That Can Be Welded Rather Than Cast: We’ve already discussed ways to eliminate welds to create efficiencies, but what about adding welds? In some cases, it may be more cost effective to weld metal pieces to a part rather than cast the entire component in a costly alloy or exotic metal. For example, a company that originally used a part cast in a high-nickel alloy found that 50 percent of the part could be composed of standard, structural steel which allowed a savings in material and thus a savings in total cost. Also, the company was further able to redesign the part so that it was more efficient.